Chương 13: Chapter 13 The Inside Information

After dinner, Old Master Avery led Hera to an enormous greenhouse attached to the mansion's spacious living room, which was occasionally used as a banquet hall.

The greenhouse showcased a stunning variety of expensive plants, herbs, and flowers, crafting an ambiance reminiscent of paradise itself. Nestled at its core was a spacious swimming pool, its temperature carefully regulated to offer a warm retreat all year round, beckoning visitors to enjoy a refreshing dip regardless of the season.

The greenhouse was livened up by the fluttering of diverse butterflies, adding a touch of enchantment to the already captivating scene. Hera and Old Master Avery paused their stroll, settling into comfortable rattan chairs adorned with plush cushions. "This greenhouse is truly breathtaking," Hera remarked, "it feels like stepping into a luxurious resort."

Old Master Avery teased, "Weren't you the one who once wished to swim with fairies and mermaids?"

Hera blushed, recalling her childhood dreams. 'Wasn't it what she said when she was very young?'

The thought that all these changes might be related to her warmed Hera's heart, transforming it into a pile of cotton candy—sweet and fluffy.

The grandfather and granddaughter duo engaged in a brief catch-up about their lives during the years they had not spoken much. Hera took the lead in the conversation, sharing her experiences and the lessons she had learned during her time away. The two laughed and talked like old friends reunited.

Meanwhile, the servants, who discreetly observed from the sidelines, wore smiles of genuine happiness. They were pleased to see life returning to the once desolate mansion, bringing warmth and vibrancy back to its halls.

As the clock struck 9 PM, Hera gently urged her grandfather to retire for the night, reminding him not to overexert himself. The Old Master happily complied, touched by his granddaughter's concern. Hera escorted him to his door, ensuring he took his vitamins and promising to check on him later to ensure he didn't sneak back to his study to work.

Once assured of her grandfather's well-being, Hera tended to her own nightly routine, washing up before lying on the bed.

Deciding to check the progress of the day's trending searches, Hera found the two topics that had caught her attention earlier still dominating the headlines. Unfortunately, they were attracting an alarming amount of negativity from netizens.

Some individuals had even gone so far as to expose Hera's personal information, including details about her university. Unsure whether this was orchestrated by Minerva or simply the result of online sleuthing, Hera realized the potential for trouble this could cause for ordinary individuals.

'But am I a normal person?' Hera smirked as she scrolled down on the comments. 'TSK! TSK! Indeed so ruthless.'

As Hera scrolled down, she stumbled upon a thread containing purported "inside information" about the events that transpired in Alexi's apartment that day. To her dismay, the post had amassed nearly half a million likes and millions of comments.

[Sweet_Dumplings: "Hello everyone, I want to address something before any assumptions are made about my intentions in joining the conversation about the alleged Alexi's extreme fan incident. I assure you, that's not my purpose here. My brother happens to live next door to Alexi's apartment, and as such, I've been a frequent visitor.

I just happen to read through the thread when I notice the girl's familiar face which I often see lingering in the hallway outside Alexi's door. Initially, I assumed she was a maid hired by our neighbor, so no one paid much attention.

Only now did we find out that Alexi is being stalked by this crazy fan. She's always here waiting for brother Alexi and most time doesn't leave until late at night.

We never received any complaints from our neighbor, so we assumed it was just a misunderstanding and that she was indeed a maid. Why did I assume she was a maid? Quite simply, our area is known for its affluent residents, and this girl often appeared wearing inexpensive clothes, likely purchased from a market stall. It seemed highly unlikely she belonged in our upscale neighborhood.

Please, I hope you won't judge me harshly; I'm simply describing what I've observed as objectively and logically as I can. I frequently notice Minerva Briley visiting her boyfriend in his apartment, so I never suspected he was being harassed by a fan. But this girl, she's truly creepy and seems quite unhinged.

That day, I was returning from my grocery shopping when I heard a commotion next door. Minerva's terrified scream pierced the air, followed by the swift arrival of her bodyguards who escorted away a girl hysterically hurling curses and threats at Minerva.

Minerva appeared shaken, but thankfully, the fan was swiftly apprehended and removed. Legal action is already underway against this disturbed individual.

P.S. For more updates, please check my social media account, and don't forget to like and follow."]

This girl was aiming to garner a good reputation by presenting the whole fiasco in the best light possible leaning in Minerva's favor, portraying it as "truthful" based on her information, which was riddled with gaps and likely orchestrated to further implicate Hera.

Just as Hera finished reading the lengthy message pinned at the top of the thread, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, Athena's name flashed on the screen.

She answered it in a beat, she knew why her friend was calling her. So her mood turned better and she smiled. "Are you not planning to sleep?" She asked.

"Sleep?! You still have time to sleep huh?! When are you planning to make a move?!" Athena whined as if she was the one being bullied online.

In fact, she had just engaged in a heated trash talk exchange online before calling. However, she was thoroughly defeated by a barrage of comments attacking her for supporting Hera. She was so inundated that she felt as though she might cough up blood from anger.

Her nostrils flared like a bull's, her eyes turning red with frustration. She was beyond livid at this point. Even after hiring a keyboard warrior and attempting to divert the online topic, Minerva's supporters had effectively cornered them.

She simply stated, "It's essentially a 'she said, he said' situation without concrete evidence. Witnesses can be fabricated." However, with just that comment, the tide turned against her. People accused her of being another extreme fan or a spy sent by Hera. The online community showed a lack of manners, even resorting to attacking her family, with derogatory comments aimed at her mother for supposedly giving birth to a failure like her.

After Athena poured out her grievances to Hera, the latter's demeanor shifted dramatically to one of cold anger. Athena's mother, much like Hera's own, was kind-hearted. 'Who were these people to hurl such hurtful comments at her?'

Hera took a deep breath to reorganize her thoughts and said. "I'm sorry Athena, I even dragged you."

"Babe! What are you talking about?! This is not on you, it was that cheating couple whose shamelessness knows no bounds!" She sighed with heartache. "Babe, you really need to serve yourself justice."

"Don't worry, I'm not letting them off the hook so easily," Hera assured Athena, her tone seething with indignation. "They could have simply parted ways with me, and I didn't even want my ex back or want to take revenge on how I was treated back then. But they refuse to leave me be. I might have been willing to forgive them after the initial incident, as it was partly my fault, but their actions have crossed a line."

"What do you mean, 'partly your fault'? It wasn't at all!" Athena countered sharply, her tone reflecting her frustration and disbelief like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

Hera chuckled self-deprecatingly. "It was. You warned me numerous times, but I was stubborn, believing that he was different from the Alexi you knew from the novel. I directly jumped into the pit they dug for me, so I just suffered the consequences. But that doesn't mean I'll let them pull my loved ones into the pit with me."

Athena's shoulders relaxed, and she playfully responded, "It's good that you know your priorities."

Hera's chuckle this time was more relaxed and playful. "Who else would dare to bully you aside from me?!"

Athena snorted. "You wished brat!"

Hera laughed teasingly for a moment before continuing. "Don't do anything for now. I already have a plan in mind. I'll take care of them after tomorrow. You just have to sit back and enjoy a good show."

After hearing her friend's confident declaration, Athena's worries dissolved, and a wave of sleepiness began to wash over her. "When are you coming back to my place?"

"I'll be staying with Grandpa for now, I might not have a chance to go back while it is chaotic outside."

Athena nodded slowly. "Hmmmm. Okay. Take care then," she murmured, her voice gradually fading as drowsiness overtook her.

Hera smiled, relieved to sense her friend's anxiety easing.

She had just settled in for the night, her mind mapping out the trajectory of the unfolding drama, when her phone buzzed once more. Assuming it was Athena with another wave of late-night worries, she reached for her device. However, a glimpse at the caller ID revealed it was Alexi. Despite her initial irritation, Hera hesitated briefly before ultimately deciding to answer the call, curious about what he might want.